How to File a Grievance Complaint Against a Doctor

Patients trust their doctors to find out what is wrong and prescribe an accurate treatment to get better. However, this does not always happen. Doctors sometimes make mistakes, prescribing the wrong medication or dose, making mistakes during surgery or misdiagnosing a patient. If you feel that a doctor has wronged you or a loved one, you can file a grievance with your state's medical board so the doctor is properly admonished for the mistakes. The process for each state is different, but overall the same.

Instructions

• 1

  Speak with the hospital where the doctor works, or another doctor in the same practice, about your issue to start the grievance process. Some hospitals and offices prefer to attempt to rectify complaints internally before involving the medical board. However, you can still file a grievance with the state on your own, even after you present your complaint to the hospital.

• 2

  Locate your state's medical board. The actual name of the medical board varies by state, but many of them offer a website where you can view the specifics of filing a grievance against your doctor.

• 3

  Print and fill out a paper form if your state offers one for filing grievances against doctors. If you do not have Internet access, call your state's medical board and request a form by mail. Fill out the form completely and mail it to the medical board for review.

• 4

  Fill out the online version of the complaint form if you would rather submit it online and your state allows this type of submission. An online complaint form may be reviewed faster because it is transmitted immediately, versus waiting a few days for the mail.

• 5

  Call your state's hotline to file a complaint by phone. Some states allow you to issue your complaint verbally through this special hotline. If the reviewer has any further questions, he can contact you about your complaint.